Fortunately, the preparation for cultivators was simple, a single technique could clean everything.
As Song Weizhi led the little girl downstairs, Wei Zhao had been waiting for half a day. She glanced suspiciously at Song Weizhi and Song Zhixia. Somehow, she felt something strange between her Mistress and her little Dao Companion, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
The three of them quickly arrived at the square outside the Cold Mountain Sword Sect. It was packed with people, many of whom had been waiting there for a while. Song Weizhi and her group were considered late, but the three of them, with their stunning looks, attracted quite a bit of attention as soon as they arrived.
"Hey, look at those three female cultivators coming over. They look amazing. It would be great if we could enter the inner sect with them. Just watching them every day feels refreshing."
"Really? I wonder if we can go over and get to know them."
"Hmph, serving lust, in the world of cultivation, strength matters. What's the use of just being good-looking? It's not like they are selling themselves." Several female disciples nearby complained.
"That's right, look at their appearance. They might not even pass the first stage."
Song Weizhi and her group didn't pay much attention to the discussions around them. Song Weizhi scanned the square and indeed spotted the male lead, Zhao Xuankun. It seemed that the force of the plot had brought them all together.
Zhao Xuankun seemed to have noticed Song Weizhi and her group. He hurried over to greet them. Since coming out of the secret realm, Zhao Xuankun felt that his cultivation might be admired in a place like Linhai City, but it might not be enough in a larger place. So, resolutely, he came to the imperial capital, wanting to study at the best sword sect in the Nanming Continent.
Zhao Xuankun was already a cold and reserved male cultivator, and now, standing with Song Weizhi and her group, he attracted even more attention. After chatting for a while, they saw many disciples coming out of the Cold Mountain Sword Sect.
The one at the forefront was a handsome young man with a bright and elegant appearance. He was none other than Qi Yingzhe, the Head disciple of the Cold Mountain Sword Sect. Despite his young age, he had already achieved the cultivation level of Perfection-Nascent Soul realm, making him a cultivation genius on the entire Nanming Continent. He was also known for his upright character, serving as a role model for the entire Cold Mountain Sword Sect.
When he appeared on the square, it quieted down. "Thank you all for coming to our Cold Mountain Sword Sect today. The sect recruits disciples every three years, and it's time for recruitment again. To enter our sect, you must pass three tests: one for your cultivation level, one for your spirit roots, and if you pass both, you will be allowed to enter the secret realm. In the secret realm, you'll be ranked based on the number of demonic beasts you hunt. Only the top thirty can become inner disciples of our Cold Mountain Sword Sect."
Qi Yingzhe's voice wasn't loud, but because it was infused with spiritual qi, everyone in the square could hear it.
There was a lot of discussion in the square:
"Hey, that's Senior Brother Qi. I often hear about him. He's a cultivation genius and a good person. It seems that he lives up to the rumors."
"Exactly, how many female cultivators want to enter the Cold Mountain Sword Sect just for him?"
"When will I become someone like Senior Brother Qi?"
"You should go to bed early."
After the discussion, Qi Yingzhe, on the high platform, waited for the noise to calm down before continuing, "Today, we will begin the first two tests. Only those who qualify in both cultivation and spirit roots can participate in the trial of the secret realm. I will be here with you the whole time, ensuring fairness in all tests. Now, let's begin."
Song Weizhi and her group had already submitted their registration forms after arriving in Ji Mo City. At this moment, disciples beside Qi Yingzhe had started calling out names. Those whose names were called needed to go to the Spirit Stone to verify their cultivation level. If qualified, the Spirit Stone would display their status directly.
The Cold Mountain Sword Sect not only requires the cultivators to have a cultivation realm of Enlightenment or above but also demands that their spirit roots must be no more than two. The purer, the better. Therefore, many people who come here either play a minor role or directly become attendants for the influential figures in the imperial capital.
After a while, more than a dozen people had gone up for testing, but surprisingly, not a single person had successfully passed the test.
As Song Weizhi and her group were watching, they saw Liu Zhiyun, who had tried to strike up a conversation in the inn that day, standing in front of the Spirit Stone. Soon, the Spirit Stone displayed his spiritual roots and cultivation level.
"Hey, look, someone finally passed. Enlightenment realm, impressive."
"What a country bumpkin. Liu Zhiyun, don't you know about him? His father, Liu Zhengxing, is a current general. He comes from a prominent family."
"Really, high cultivation level and a noble background. Why wasn't I born into such a family?"
People in the square were discussing enthusiastically, and Wei Zhao's eyebrows furrowed slightly. She had been quite annoyed that day.
After Liu Zhiyun passed the test and received a wooden plaque, which served as proof of his identity and a pass to enter the secret realm, it was his cousin's turn, Meng Xing. She had relied on her somewhat attractive appearance, which had attracted quite a bit of attention even before Song Weizhi and the others arrived. Combined with her cousin's title, many people wanted to flatter her.
She walked arrogantly onto the high platform, looking disdainful of everyone. However, when she saw Qi Yingzhe, she slightly restrained herself. She smiled at Qi Yingzhe, but he didn't respond.
Meng Xing pouted a little disappointedly, stood in front of the Spirit Stone, and verified her Enlightenment realm. She became the first female disciple among this group to obtain a wooden plaque.
Song Weizhi wasn't too concerned. If it weren't for finding the Soul Fragment of her family's Xia Xia, she wouldn't have wanted to enter the Cold Mountain Sword Sect at all.
At this moment, it was already Song Weizhi's turn. Song Zhixia seemed reluctant as she held onto Song Weizhi's hand. When the three of them arrived earlier, many people's gazes seemed to stick to Song Weizhi. This made Song Zhixia quite uncomfortable. Her Senior Sister belonged to her, so why were those people staring?
Seeing the little girl holding her hands with an unwilling expression, Song Weizhi found it amusing. She had only gone up for a while, and the little girl was already so reluctant?
Song Weizhi smiled and pinched the little girl's hand, pulling her closer while whispering, "I'm not gone forever. Why can't you bear to part with me, Xia Xia?"
"It's not that. It's just… I don't want others staring at Senior Sister," the little girl said, swaying Song Weizhi's arm.
Leaning down to whisper a few words in the little girl's ear, Song Weizhi caused a blush to quickly spread on the girl's cheeks. The little girl glared at Song Weizhi and then let her go.
When Song Weizhi went up to the platform, the Spirit Stone quickly determined that she had an Ice-type Single Spirit Root. However, her cultivation level was only detected as Perfection-Golden Core realm. Song Zhixia, standing below, was somewhat surprised. After all, her Senior Sister had shown her little Nascent Soul to her. How could she only be at the Golden Core realm?
Song Weizhi had expected this. She had taken a Concealment Pill, making it impossible for others to sense her true cultivation level unless she wanted them to. Qi Yingzhe glanced at Song Weizhi and handed her the wooden plaque.
After Song Weizhi came down, she pinched the little girl's hand and raised her eyebrows, saying, "I don't want others to stare at Xia Xia either."
Blushing, Xia Xia walked up to the platform and successfully obtained the wooden plaque.
Next was Wei Zhao. Originally, she didn't want to become an inner disciple, but if she didn't, she wouldn't be able to follow her Mistress. So, she reluctantly joined, surprising everyone in the square. They hadn't expected that all three beautiful female cultivators would pass the first two rounds of testing.
Once again, Song Weizhi's group drew the attention of Liu Zhiyun and his cousin. Liu Zhiyun hadn't expected to encounter them here. He considered going over to greet them but remembered the embarrassment at the inn and refrained. After everyone had finished testing, only about a hundred people had passed. The others had to leave empty-handed.
The Cold Mountain Sword Sect had scheduled the test inside the secret realm for early the next morning. After explaining the details of the secret realm, Qi Yingzhe instructed the tested cultivators to go back.
Wei Zhao was afraid of disturbing her Misstress and the little girl in their intimate moments, so she found an excuse to slip away. Song Weizhi, on the other hand, leisurely walked back, holding her little girl's hand. The obedient girl allowed herself to be led and gradually leaned toward Song Weizhi. Smiling at her little girl, Song Weizhi hoped she could stay carefree like this forever.
As they walked back, the little girl glanced at a stall selling candied hawthorns. Song Weizhi immediately took her over to buy some.
Trying to appear indifferent, the little girl said, "These are treats for children, and cultivators don't need to eat."
Song Weizhi didn't expose the little girl's true desires and just smiled, saying, "Well, I'm just a child. I want to eat this? Xia Xia, will you allow it?"
Although the little girl's words were directed at Song Weizhi, her eyes were fixed on the candied hawthorns. "If Senior Sister wants to eat, then buy them."
In fact, Song Zhixia didn't particularly like candied hawthorns. She just had never tasted them before. During festivals, her younger brother would always get a string of candied hawthorns, and she could only watch from the side, aware of their existence but never knowing their taste. Even though she had let go of the past, she couldn't help but want to taste them.
She sneakily glanced at Song Weizhi, noticing that her Senior Sister had only bought one string of candied hawthorns. Feeling a bit disappointed, she was reluctant to admit that she also wanted to try them. Nevertheless, she didn't say anything.
After Song Weizhi paid, she picked a large string of candied hawthorns and held it in her hands. The little girl's eyes were glued to the candied hawthorns. Amused by this, Song Weizhi didn't tease the little girl anymore. "Xia Xia, do you want to eat? I bought them suddenly, but now I don't feel like eating."
"However, these are things that only children love to eat." The little girl bit her lip, pretending to be calm even though she wanted to eat.
"I hope Xia Xia can be happy every day like a child. Will Xia Xia help me finish them?" Song Weizhi softly coaxed.
Reluctantly, the little girl reached out to take the candied hawthorns from Song Weizhi's hand, nibbling on them bit by bit. Her cheeks puffed up like a bunny munching on a carrot.
Unconsciously, the two of them returned to their inn room, and the little girl had finished eating the candied hawthorns.
Song Weizhi approached and hugged the little girl's waist, raised her eyebrows, and said with a smile, "Xia Xia, you've eaten all the candied hawthorns. What should we do? Now I want to eat too."
Author's Note: Xia Xia: What should I do? I've eaten them all, wuwuwu~